A single word has jumped into my conversations several times this Monday morning. I am only half way through the day, yet I have heard it used three times.  Both personal and professional uses, but it has been a common thread.

TRUST.  It gets me thinking… are people using this word casually, or is it really on people’s minds? I believe in people and their sincerity.  It has to be sincere.  For fun, I look it up.  Here is what I found as the primary definition:

“Trust: the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something: relations have to be built on trust | they have been able to win the trust of the others.”

This 5-letter word carries so much power.

On a basic level, one thing we probably all agree on — trust can only be earned.  Developing and maintaining trust between people is critical to personal and professional success. Trust is the foundation for a successful business relationship.  Here are a few important tips for building trust:

• Keep your promises and don’t make promises you can’t keep.
• Always be honest and never lie.
• Keep confidences if someone asks you to do so.
• Be open about your feelings and opinions in a respectful way.
• Be genuine.
• Follow through in all you say and do.
• Be humane and forgive people for their shortcomings.

Trusting relationships are worth their weight in gold.  We never know where life will lead us, but with honest effort and follow-through, trusting relationships will always have a positive effect on our personal and professional lives.  In a nutshell, I will try surround myself with good people and enjoy the experiences those people bring!